In a recent case of wildlife crime, a Florida man has been charged with the illegal killing of 13 American alligators. According to ClickOrlando, 21-year-old Jacob Latreille of Edgewater carried out these activities between April 19 and April 29 near the St. Johns River, utilizing the Hatbill Park boat ramp as his launching site.
Authorities from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission indicated that videos uncovered on Latreille’s and others' cellphones show multiple alligators being unlawfully held on his airboat. The commission reported that recovering these videos, which confirm the violation dates with metadata, was captured through the night when Latreille was reportedly directing others in the illegal hunting.
The severity of these actions is underscored by the law, as court documents cited by WESH state that illegal killing, possessing, or capturing an American alligator constitutes a third-degree felony. The crimes have culminated in Latreille being charged with 15 counts related to these activities.
Providing details on the evidence, officials said that metadata from the videos taken on April 24 show Latreille facilitating the unlawful killing of a 5-foot alligator. Additional footage from April 28 and 29 depicted him and others posing with five killed alligators, both on the deck of his airboat and at a residence in Mims.
